Draft-gear.



J. F; COURS-ON.

DRAFT GEAR.

APPLICATION FlLED mm. 1912.

Patented Nov. 23, 1915.

Inasmuch entrain s raits PATENTI? easier...

JOHN F. COURSON, OF PITCAIRN, PENNSYLVANIA.

DRAFT-GEAR.

Application filed January 9,1912.

To u/Z whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. COURSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at litcairn. in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements in Draft- Gears, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the class of draft gearing for railway cars and it has for its object to provide a draft gear of simple construction. adapted for easy insertion in or I'OHIO-Yill from the usual car framing, with means providing a strong serviceable connection between the drawbanand the gear, and features of improved construction facilitating the use of a plurality of gears in tandem arrangement, with other features of novelty and advantage, as shall be more fully hereinafter described.

Preferred arrangements of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a longitudinal vertical sectional View showing two gears mounted in tandem operative arrangement, in normal position, indicated by the line I. I. of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view of the construction shown in Fig. 1', indicated by the line II. II. of said Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are cross sections indicated by the lines III. III. and IV..IV. of Fig. 1. Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective detail views of the coupling boxes for slidably connecting the drawbar with the gear case.

The drawings show an arrangement of the invention in which two gears are applied tofthe framing of a steel car having the usual center sills 2, 2, a pair of laterally arranged brachets 3, 3, secured to the sills 2 by rivets or otherwise, and a rear abutment i for the front gear case similarly secured. as the front gear alone is equipped with my improved coupling mechanism, connecting it with the drawbar, the following description of said parts-refers to it particularly.

The gear case 5, which may be of any suitable or preferred construction, is generally cylindrical in form, adapted to contain any suitable friction-creating mechanism, and normally abuts by its rear end against the abutment 4.

While the invention is not restricted to any particular friction mechanism, I have Specification of Letters Patent.

clearance space.

Patented Nov. 23, I915.

Serial No. 670,285.

shown a plurality, preferably four, of segmental friction shoes 6 having outer faces conforming to the curvature of the inner surface of the cylinder and having inner inclined wedging faces 7, 7, at each end, oppositely disposed, with an intervening IVithin said friction shoes and in operative postion with relation to the faces 7, are the single expanding wedges 8 and 9 respectively at front and rear, each of which is provided with series of outer wedge faces conforming to and adapted to operatively engage the endmost series of faces 7 of shoes 6 to press them outwardly into binding frictional engagement with the cylinder, when the wedges 8 and 9 are separated longitudinally. This latter effect is secured by means of a plurality, preferably two, of intervening friction blocks 11, of generally wedge shape, having oppositely disposed outer wedge faces adapted to engage corresponding inner friction faces of the endmost friction wedges 8 and 9. Each friction block 11 is also provided on its innor side with a wedge face adapted to 00- act with one of the wedge faces of a central wedge block 18. In this respect the gear is similar in construction and operation to the one forming the subjectmatter of a companion application filed herewith, Serial No. 670,284.

The central wedge lsextends through a central clearance opening in block 8 and forwardly beyond the group of assembled wedges, and bears by its front end against the rear of a transverse follower 20, preferably havinga lipped engagement therewith, as indicated at 21. A spring 22 is mounted within the casing 6, bearing by its rear end against the inner end of the casing and at front against the inner ends of'friction shoes 6.

The casing 5 is annularly flanged at its front end as indicated at 23 for the purpose of providing for connection with the drawbar 24. Said drawbar, which may be of any desired construction as to its coupler head,

' longitudinal sides 28 and 29 respectively,

interfitting with each other and overlapping at-each side of a middle clearancespace, through which extends the SllttIlkQrQi the drawbar 24.- Therear end of each member 26 and 27 is rounded in semicircular for-' mation, as indicated at 3&, for engagement with the annular shoulder 23 of the-casing.

Each sidewall 28 of member 26 and each side w'all 29 of member 27 is longitudinally slotted, as indicated at 31. When said members are assembled in engagement with the inner head of the drawbar, said slots are in registering position, and provide transverse clearance for the follower 20, which extends outwardly at each side through similar slots 32 in the webs of the center sills 2. The inner box member 27 is recessed, as at 33, for clearance of the annular flange abutment 23, and the inner ends of the side walls 29 thereby abut directly against the lower end of'the casing 5, as clearly shown in Fig. 6.

The' outer box member 26 embracesthe upper'semi-cylindrical portion of the casing 5 and the annularly recessed inner end portions-3d of each of said box members g ge behind the upper and lower cylifl drica'l, flange abutment 23 and Olnpletely surround it, The rear portions 37 of the box members 26 and 27 extend inwardly behind the annular shoulder 23 so that when the box members are assembled they will be held in embracing position bythe trans erse follower 20. Said follower is provided with retaining keys or pins 35 at each end, preventing longitudinal movement or displaceent Atfithe front ends the box members are ro'v ded' with inwardly extending lips or flanges;36, adapted when assembled, to engage the shoulders 25 of the drawbar, in the follower also has the same degree of movement through said slots and slots 32, in the operation of buffing. On the other hand the assembled coupling boxes 26 and 27,,

with the casing 5, have the same extent of forward movement with relation to the relatively stationary follower 20, in the operation of pulling.

The drawings show a tandem arrangement of duplicate gears, whereby to provlde fora partial absorption of the buffing shocks 7 in the front gear, and supplemental absorption by an additional gear located between the side members forming the center sill and rearwardly behind the usual king pin JBS adapted to operatein combined resistance to bufling strains with the front gear. A slidably mounted block 39 is mounted between the center sills 2, provided with aclearance slot 40 for the king pin 38 and extending forwardly and backwardly of the king pin. Between blocks39 and abutment 4t is inserted a follower 41-, while a similar abutment P is fixedly secured between the center sill members 2, as indicated, by riveting or otherwise,-providing a solid packing-fo1""thefsUpplemental gear case '5 Said gear, case is similar to the gear case5 already described and is provided with similar friction-creating"mechanlsm, the casing, however, bemg continuously straight and without the terminal annular abutment 23.

, t A central wedge post 18 extends forwardly of the gear case 5 and abuts against the rear end of sliding block 39, so that when the gear is assembledgas shown in liigs; Land 2, and compressed,- there will be aw-dire itransmission'Tof impart force from followerfill through block 39 and wedge post 18 to the assembled friction-creating and spring mechanism within the casing 5, which in turnbears against the solid rear abutment 4.

For the purpose of transmitting any unabsorbed shock remaining after the capacity .of the front gear within the casing 5 has been ,partly developed, a thrust bar 12 is inserted through the rear end of front casing 5 and a suitable opening in,abutment 4:,

which bar abuts by a reduced terminal 43, against the inner end of the front wedge post 18. The rear wedge block 9 of'the friction mechanism of the front casing is also suitably recessed, as indicated at 4:4, for clearance of the'front end of bar 42, as clearly shown so that its functions are not in any way interfered with. As the drawbar 24: isforced backwardly against follower 20 and the strain-is transmitted to the wedge block 18-, it in turn pushes bar 42 backwardly during the impact-absorbing operation ofthe front gear, until the rear end of bar 42 makes abutting contact with follower l1. Thereafter any additional or backward travel of the drawbar will effect backward movement of follower 41 and block 39, transmitting movement through the second wedge block 18 to the second assembled friction mechanism within casing 5. I

The especial advantage of such construction and arrangement is that the resisting effect of thefront gear is supplemented by that of the rear gear, and that after a certain amount of frictional resistance is developed in the front gear, both gears act together with a' greatly increased aggregate resistance. This is of especial advantage in the caseof unusual or extra heavy impacts in butting, while the front gear is entirely capable of independent operation to take care of ordinary pulling strains.

When it is desired to temporarily lock each" adjacent connecting gear of two cars which are coupled together, against any bufling action, I use spacing blocks 45, indicated in dotted lines. Fi Such blocks are inserted through slots32 and 31 between the follower 20 andthe rear ends of said slots, thereby preventing any movement of the gears so that there is no movement of l the cars toward or-from each other in travel. This Is of especial advantage where two cars are used for carrying merchandise which extends from one car to the other, as extra long lumber, steel girders, etc.

The construction and operation of the gear willbe readily understood from the foregoing description. The mounting of the front gear, which may, of course, be used alone if desired, between the center sills and with the drawbar by the slottedbox housings and follower, provides for easy and convenient installation or removal. The gear and'drawbar are maintained 1n op- 7 erative position withample freedom of longitudinal movement of the drawbar in either direction, and the several strains are imparted directly through the resisting mechanism to the car framing.

\Vhen the tandem arrangement is used, the heavier shocks are amply provided for so that undue'or unusual strains will not tend to break or damage any of the parts.

What I claim is:'

' 1. A draft gear comprising a shock absorbing member having a casing provided at its front end with laterally extending shoulders, a drawbar, and separable housings embracing the drawbar by their forward portions and having at their rear portions inwardly extending projections engaging said shoulders and connecting the housings with the front portion of said casing and providing for relative longitudinal movement of the drawbar toward the casing.

2. A draft gear comprising a shock absorbing member having a casing provided at its front end with laterally extending shoulders, a resisting backing for said casing, a drawbar, and separable housings embracing the drawbar by their forward portions and having at their rear portions inwardly extending projections engaging said shoulders and-connecting the housings with thefront portion" of said casing and providing for independent inward movement of the drawbar and outwardmovement of the-drawbar and said casing together.

3. A draft gear comprising a shock absorbing member, a resisting backing for said member, a drawbar, separable longitudinally slotted embracing housings connecting the drawbar with said member, and a transverse follower extending through 'said housings for holding them in engagement with the shock absorbing member and adapted to transmitstrains from the drawbar to said. member.

'f. The combination with a car framing having longitudinal slots and front abutments, and a rear abutment, of a shock absorbing member, a drawbar, separable embracing housings connecting the drawbar with said member and having overlapping longitudinally slotted sides, and a transverse follower extending through the slotted sides of said housings and the slots of the car framing adapted to engage said front abutments, and to transmit drawbar strains through the shock absorbing member to the car framing.

5. The combination with a car framing having longitudinal slots, a lower supporting plate, front abutments, and arear abutment, of a shock absorbing member, a drawbar, sepa able embracing housings connecting the drawbar with said member and having overlapping longitudinally slotted sides, and a transverse follower extending through the slotted sides of said housings and the slots of the car framing adapted to engage said front abutments, andto transmit drawbar strains through theshock absorbing member to the car framing.

(3. The combination with a car framing having longitudinal slots and front abut-' ments, and a rear abutment, of a shock absorbing member, a drawbar, a plurality of inter-engaging housing boxes connecting the drawbar and shock absorbing member and having longitudinal transverse slots, and a transverse follower extending through the slots in said boxes and car framing ada ted to engage said front abutments, draw a1, and the shock absorbing member.

7. In a draft gear, the combination with a shock absorbing member having forwardly extending rigidly connected slotted coupling extensions, of a drawbar having shouldered engagement with said extensions, and a folshoulder, .of separable housing boxes embracing said shoulder and having forwardly extending drawbar-engaging portions.

10. In a draft gear, the combination with a friction gear casing having an annular shoulder, of separable housing boxes embracingsaid shoulder and having forwardly "extending overlapping longitudinally slot.-

ted sides and provided with terminal drawbar engaging shoulders.

11. In a draft gear, the combination with a friction gear casing having an annular shoulder, of separable housing boxes embracing said shoulder and having forwardly extending overlapping longitudinally slotted sides and drawbar engaging shoulders,

a drawbar engaged thereby, and a transverse follower extending through said slother being provided at its forward end with a box like opening to receive the drawbar, lugs at its rear end to engagethe shell, and an intermediate transverse opening through which the front follower is disposed.

In, testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN F. GOURSON.

Witnesses: i i i C. M. CLARKE, EnWIN TnUEB.

In a device of the character described,

a drawbar, followers, and a member p connecting the drawbar and shell, said them- 

